Jubilant Poles were celebrating their return to the European fold today, relegating decades of Cold War division to history after a decisive vote to join the European Union.

Poland, with 38 million people, is the largest of ten nations set to join the EU next year, with voting power equal to Spain and behind only Britain, France and Germany. It secured its place in the largest wave of EU expansion with 76pc of voters approving a referendum to join, according to early returns with 75pc of 25,000 precincts reporting.

Turnout surged to 58pc of the registered 29.5 million voters yesterday, with many voters motivated by an 18pc vote on Saturday. A 50pc turnout was required to make the referendum valid.

Poles filled public squares throughout the country to celebrate. In Warsaw, there was an outdoor concert featuring Poland's national anthem and the EU's Ode To Joy.

The vote empowers President Aleksander Kwasniewski to ratify Poland's treaty with the EU, signed at an Athens summit in April.

EU membership will give Poles the chance to legally live and work within the European Union for the first time. The treaty calls for a seven-year transition period. But the Netherlands and Britain are among five nations that have said they will welcome Poles as soon as accession is official.

Poland's Gross Domestic Product is just 42pc of the EU average. While Poland will pay £5bn in the first three years, it will be eligible for nearly £15bn in EU subsidies in that period.

Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Malta and Lithuania have already approved EU membership with referendums. The Czech Republic votes next week, followed by Latvia and Estonia in September. Cyprus is leaving the decision to parliament.